A Tasmanian Liberal senator who has consistently campaigned against trans-women competing in female sporting competitions was left at odds with an equality group after they discussed matters at a meeting last week.
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Senator Claire Chandler was disappointed following her meeting with Equality Tasmania, but the organisation instead believed the meeting was an important step towards inclusion.
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The meeting intended to discuss pathways for trans-women in the world of organised sport, but in the wake of the meeting Senator Chandler said she was "disappointed at the lack of appreciation that women are entitled to single-sex sport".
The position had been one Senator Chandler had been strong on since publishing an opinion piece in a Tasmanian newspaper that discussed women's sports, women's toilets and women's changing rooms.
She said her position remained firm and reiterated it was aligned with "Commonwealth legislation which explicitly provides for sport to be operated on the basis of sex in any competitive sporting activity in which strength, stamina or physique are relevant".
She said she had heard from "thousands of constituents" who agreed "single-sex sport for women is a necessity for female athletes to be able to compete fairly and safely".
"While sporting codes can and should be making sport accessible for everyone by offering a range of social, mixed and competitive sporting opportunities, this must include single-sex sport for females," she said.
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Equality Tasmania maintained the fact Senator Chandler was open to meeting with them hinted progress for their plight.
Group spokesperson Dr Charlie Burton said communicating openly with Senator Chandler was constructive. Dr Burton said while Senator Chandler was entitled to her opinion, it was missing the point.
"The largest barrier we have seen in these discussions is that trans-women aren't being recognised as women. There is an over reliance on a single way of defining what a woman is," he said.
"Until everyone accepts trans-women are women, we're not going to get very far."
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